John McCain, maverick?

A lot of folks are wondering what happened to John's McCain's integrity as he veers right to combat the challenge from the right wing neanderthal JD Hayworth. I would argue McCain never had any. He's a party of one, looking out for himself. Like Bush Junior, he rode his father's coattails as long as possible. Yes he was a war hero but any other pilot with his record would not have been allowed to fly in the first place. He emerged from the war, dumped his wife, sucked up to the Reagans and began his political career. Yes he has displayed some willingness to buck the system but I suspect it was as much a calculation as anything else in his political career as he sought to resurrect his own image post Keating. When he had the opportunity to display real leadership--during the campaign and as the gracious defeated candidate concerned about his country--he didn't. He changed his positions with the political winds. And his stunningly inept selection of Sarah Palin demonstrates the analytical mind of a frat boy.

Finally: if you have to call yourself a maverick, you are not a maverick.